Mthobisi Maphumulo was born in 1988 September 08 at Imfume (South coast of KwaZulu Natal) in South Africa.
He is the founder of Amasosha Art Movement which is a vibrant collective of Durban Artist that promote hard work, solidarity and collaboration of ideas amongst artists.
My work is a critique on the social construction of communities. I am interested in examining the inhumane and mechanical process involved that results in class stratification and perpetual widening of inequality. My work also challenges the notion of Industrialization as a signifier for development and better life. In my community, this process has become a symbol of family displacement, land dispossession, and exploitation of both drudge and environment. Issues of identity and dignity are, therefore, imperative in my work, particularly when looking at industrial labourer’s identity in relation to the inhuman industrial safety gear which they wear daily to serve the economy. I am particularly interested in examining this identity transformation and what the parallels are, if any, with the African masks. This is crucial because African masks are known to transform the identity of the wearer for the purpose of serving the ritual. Has safety gear replaced African masks as identity transforming agents in serving the modern day industrial rituals?
I enjoy working with oil pastel as a medium of expression because it comes from oil, and oil is one of the minerals that influence the economy and the presentation of our identity thereof. Oil pastel is also a medium that artists commonly use when sketching their ideas or developing paintings on top of others. However, I choose to do complete works with it because I associate its fragility with that of my environment.
He is the founder of Amasosha Art Movement which is a vibrant collective of Durban Artist that promote hard work, solidarity and collaboration of ideas amongst artists.
My work is a critique on the social construction of communities. I am interested in examining the inhumane and mechanical process involved that results in class stratification and perpetual widening of inequality. My work also challenges the notion of Industrialization as a signifier for development and better life. In my community, this process has become a symbol of family displacement, land dispossession, and exploitation of both drudge and environment. Issues of identity and dignity are, therefore, imperative in my work, particularly when looking at industrial labourer’s identity in relation to the inhuman industrial safety gear which they wear daily to serve the economy. I am particularly interested in examining this identity transformation and what the parallels are, if any, with the African masks. This is crucial because African masks are known to transform the identity of the wearer for the purpose of serving the ritual. Has safety gear replaced African masks as identity transforming agents in serving the modern day industrial rituals?
I enjoy working with oil pastel as a medium of expression because it comes from oil, and oil is one of the minerals that influence the economy and the presentation of our identity thereof. Oil pastel is also a medium that artists commonly use when sketching their ideas or developing paintings on top of others. However, I choose to do complete works with it because I associate its fragility with that of my environment.
Mthobisi Maphumulo was born in 1988 September 08 at Imfume (South coast of KwaZulu Natal) in South Africa.
He is the founder of Amasosha Art Movement which is a vibrant collective of Durban Artist that promote hard work, solidarity and collaboration of ideas amongst artists.
My work is a...
Leer más →He is the founder of Amasosha Art Movement which is a vibrant collective of Durban Artist that promote hard work, solidarity and collaboration of ideas amongst artists.
My work is a...